JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Aug. 28, 2009) - The ETSU baseball team and head coach Tony Skole announced the addition of 13 new members to the roster on Friday. The class includes ten freshmen, one transfer and two junior college players.

"It was great to finally get everyone together last night," Skole said. "We are extremely excited to have everyone back on campus. This incoming class of players will instantly make us better in all areas. I am very excited about all of their abilities, but more than anything I am excited of the quality of the people in this group. Our coaching staff is very eager to begin working with them."

The Bucs are scheduled to open fall practice on Sept. 11 at Cardinal Park, while the Blue Gold World Series will close out fall practices.

Joining the team from the junior college ranks are right-handed pitcher Ben Booker from Cleveland State Community College and left-handed pitcher Lee Hall from Lake Sumpter Community College. Also joining the team is transfer Adam Ray, a right-handed pitcher from Lee University.

BUCS TO CONDUCT OPEN TRYOUTS SEPT. 9

The ETSU baseball team will be conducting open baseball tryouts for walk-on players Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. at Cardinal Park.

Student-athletes interested in taking part in baseball tryouts must meet ALL of the following criteria:

1) Must be registered for at least 12 credit hours for the fall semester at the ETSU

2) Must be an NCAA qualifier*

3) Must stop by the baseball office at least one week before tryouts begin to complete appropriate paperwork

*To learn whether or not a prospective student-athlete is an NCAA qualifier, visit www.NCAAclearinghouse.net. The clearinghouse process can sometimes take two weeks or longer to complete. Only qualifiers will be allowed to take the field for tryouts.

Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com for more information on ETSU baseball and all other Buccaneer athletic news.